Bonus winners, highlights and reactions

In the main event of the last UFC show of the year, the no. 9 Joaquin Buckley the brakes from no. 6 Colby Covington for nearly three rounds, forcing a medical stoppage. Buckley looked almost flawless in the game.

Buckley opened a nasty cut on Covington’s right eyelid in the first round, and it was all downhill for the former interim champion from there.

Buckley stuffed most of Covington’s takedown attempts throughout the fight.

Covington secured one in the second and another in the third, but both times Buckley was able to get back to his feet unscathed.

As the cut on Covington’s eyelid worsened, it was clear that the Octagon doctor would stop the fight. Buckley’s shorts and legs were soaked with Covington’s blood, and the latter tried to prolong the fighting sequences to prevent his eye from taking more damage.

It was of no use.

At the 4:42 mark of the third round, the doctor stopped the fight. Despite the official result being a TKO stoppage, there was no doubt who the top man was in Tampa.

The victorious Buckley eliminated almost any advantage Covington might have had in the fight, landing 75 significant strikes to 37 for the loser. After the game, Buckley showed an increasingly strong post-game interview game.

After receiving some criticism for his callouts in the past, Buckley this time conducted a quick fan reaction survey to determine the target of his callout. Buckley gave fans Leon Edwards, Kamaru Usman and Belal Muhammad.

The fans were the loudest for Usman, which is a good thing as it is the most realistic of the options.

Unfortunately, Buckley may not get this request. There is rumors swirl about Usman potentially facing Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 312 in Sydney in February.

Follow along.

Here’s a look at the rest of the results.

Cub Swanson defeats Billy Quarantillo by KO at 1:36 of Round 3

One of the greatest fighters in UFC history to never win a championship with a blistering performance. In one match, Swanson, 41, knocked Billy Quarantillo out cold.

Swanson didn’t back down, as some might have expected, but he got plenty of backlash from his peers.

Manel Kape defeats Bruno Silva by TKO (punch) at 1:57 of Round 3.

Kape made his play for the next shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s title with an impressive TKO finish of Bruno Silva.

Kape fought through three low punches from Silva to secure the finish.

• Dustin Jacoby defeats Vitor Petrino by KO (straight right hand) at 3:44 of Round 3

• Daniel Marcos defeats Adrian Yanez by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
• Navajo Stirling defeats Tuco Tokkos by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Michael Johnson defeats Ottman Azaitar by KO (right hook) at 2:03 of round 2

Johnson closed the bout with a thunderous KO. The 38-year-old veteran made it clear that he is not retiring anytime soon, and he has now won two matches in a row.

• Joel Álvarez defeats Drakkar Klose by KO (flying knee) at 2:48 of round 1

Álvarez has the look of a future title contender, albeit not a lightweight. He destroyed Drakkar Klose with a flying knee that caused the latter to fall into a guillotine. However, Klose was already cold from the knees.

Alvarez says 170 pounds is inevitable for him. We’ll see if Alvarez’s next fight is at 155 or 170/

• Sean Woodson defeats Fernando Padilla by TKO (strikes) at 4:58 of Round 1

Woodson wanted the finish in the first round. He got it in style with a hell of a combination that scored the KO victory over Padilla.

• Felipe Lima defeats Miles Johns by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Miranda Maverick defeats Jamey-Lyn Horth by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Davey Grant defeats Ramon Taveras by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Piera Rodriguez defeats Josefine Knutsson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

UFC Tampa bonus winners

Jacoby’s upset KO gave him a bonus, as did Johnson’s explosive finish. The co-main event between Swanson vs. Quarantillo was the match of the night.